Rotary casting device



April 29,'1924. v 1,492,091

G. A. WIECHERT ROTARY CASTING DEVICE Filed D60-- 30 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 :panna4 .'L

pfifii 29, 1924. 1,492091 G. A. WIECHERT.

ROTARY CASTING DEVIGE I Filed Dec. 30. 1921 z sheezs-sheet 2 ATTORAEY rmmed Apr. 29, 21924.

UNI-TED STATES GEORGE A. wmcnem', or NEwfYonx, N. Y

ao'rAnY .cAs'rrNo DEvIcE.

Application flled December 80, 1921. Serialm). 525,858.

.To all 'wlwm it 'may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE A. Wmcnnn'r, a citizen of lthe United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Queens,

w Howard Beach, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Rotary Casting Device, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to rotary casting devices; that is, to casting devices in which -centrifugal force is used for the purpose of drivin'g'molten metal or the like into a mold- Iy invention contemplates a number of distinct'objects, among which are the following: I. o so arrange and form a molding flask and a crucible fordischarging molten metal therein that 'the crucible, containing the molten metal, extends partly into the molding flask and into veryclose roximity to the molding cavity into which tiie molten metal is to be driven by aid of centrifugal force.

II. To roduce a centrifugal casting device provided with a centrifugal arm for supporting the moldin flask, and further provided with positivey nism for looking the centrifugal arm so as toprevent it from turning accidentally and also to prevent; said arm from becoming locked accidentally. III. To provide an improved molding fiask and an improved molding sprue, for use upon centrifugal castin' devices.

IV. To provide improve mechanism for securing the molding flask and parts imme- (liately associated therewith upon the revoluble casting arm, and for releasingthe samev ytherefrom. I V. To provide a rotary casting device ,having its parts so'constructed and'arranged as'to attain for the ,device as a whole a relatively hifvh degree of efiiciency, both in the saving of, time and in the quality of the articles cast ,Reference is-made to the' accompanying 'drawings formin a' part of this specification, and`in whic like reference characters indicate like 'partsthroughout the several 1 ...figures- "Figure 1 is afside .view of my rotary casting'de 'ice andshows'the same as partlyin "elevat'ionljfandpartly'broken away. l

Operating mecha- Figure 2 is a plan view of `'the rotary castvlng devlce appearing in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary Vertical' section w through the upper portionof the same.: v F igure 4 is a fragmentary edge view of my device, showing the same as partly in' elevation and as partly broken away.

Figure 5 is a side view of a revoluble arm and partsI immediately associated i therewith, the view being partly in side elevation and partly broken away. a Figure 6 is a side elevation of a oke used for .holding the molding iflask an crucible upon the centrifugal arm. .V

F'gure 7 is a plan view of the yoke shown in F igure 6. w

Figure 8 is a lan'view of the sprueused in connection with m device.

Figure 9; is la side view of the s rue, show-` ing it as. partly in'elevation an as partly broken away.l 1,/ Figure 10 is a plan'view of the molding flask' in which the casting is made.

A table 17 supports a casing 18, the latter. being rovided with a flange 19 extending vertica ly downward and abutting the edge of the table. For the 'purpose of, holding the casing firmly in posltion I use bolts 20, extending through feet 21, carried by -the casing and in this instance integral therewith.

Located within the casing 18 is a gear 22, which engages a pinion 23, also located within the casing. The gear 22 is mounted rigidly upon and carried by a revoluble shaft 24, this shaft extending through the casing and being journaled thereto.

Mount-ed rigidly uporv' one end of the shaft 24 is a block 25. Extending from this block is an arm 26, connected with the block by means of a pivot pin 27, as may vbe understood from Figure 5. The arm 26, at'its outer 01' free end,.car1'ies a handle 28. v'The ,arm 26 is movable relatively to the block 25`to a slight extent. That is to say, it is so lmounted upon the block that it may be moved into the positions indicated forA it in Figures 3 and 4 respectively. f

The block 25 is 'provided lwith af notch 29,

and the arm 26 carries al leaf sprin 30, provided with a portion, 31 bent latera l'ysto the 105- leng't'h of the leaf spring, and thus formed. into a hook, as 'may 'be-'understoodlfrom lFigure 4. The vleaf spring 30 is eecured to the arm26 by fastenings 32; in this instance f Mounted upon the arm 26 is a small bearing 33, of the form shown more particularly in Fi ures.3, 4 and 5. Extending through this ea'ring, and journaled thereto, is a small crank 34, provided with a handle 35 and with an upturned portion 36, serving as a cam.

The arm 26 carries`a lug 38, and the casin 18 is -provided with a slot 39 into which this lug is adapted lto fit, as indicated in Figure 4. 'z `The 'block carries a leaf spring 37, which extends over the leaf spring and engages and presses upon the outer `or free end of the arm 36.v The leaf spring 37 is for the purpose of forcing the arm 26 into such posltion as to enable the lug 38 to enagainst rotation.

ter the slot 39, and thus lock the arm I With the .lug 38l extending into the slot 39, as indicated in Figure 4, 4the arm' 26 and parts connected therewith cannot be turned so as to cause the gear 22 to rotate. With the arm`26 rocked intothe position indi- I cated for it in Figure 3, however, so that 29, so that the parts appear as indicated in ;Figure 3. Whenever this occurs, the lug 38 can not enter the slot 39, even if considerablepressure be exerted against the handle 28 or against the arm 26. Thel reason is,

lthat the portion 3.1.of the leaf spring serves as an anchor for preventing. the arm 26 from swinging to the right according to Figure 3.' g

Whenever the parts occupy the positions indicated for them in this figure, the operai tor may vgrasp the handle 28, and by revolvinto slot 39. Except for this provision the` ing it bodily around the shaft 24 as a Scenter, can free turn the gear 22 and the parts driven there While this is being one. and even if t e handle 28 be 'ven a considerable number of'turns at elther a high speed or a low speed, there is no possibility of the lug 38 .extending into the slot 39.

The pur o'se of lthis arrang'ement is to prevent al interference, for the time bemg, With the free rotation of 4the gear 22 and Vthe parts used lfor driving the same. In other words this arrangement prevents ossibilityof a ;Sudden ;stoppage of the lug-38, by' entering the slot 39 at' anunexpected mognent, might cause breakage, disthey are in proper a cross,

vpose. The

location or severe shock to some one or more of the revoluble parts.

v The purpose of the crank 34, with its upturned portion 36 and handle 35, is to enable the operator to readily force the leaf spring 30 away from the arm 26, in order to disengage the portion 31 vof the leaf spring from the notch 29. The operator, by grasping the handle 35 and slightly rocking the crank 34, causes the cam 36 to act upon the leaf spring 30 fand actuate it in the manner just stated.l

It follows that after each use of the machine during which the gear 22 is rotated, the o perator by shifting the position of the handle 35 of the crank 34, and turning the handle 28 so as to allow the lug 38 to enterlthe slot 39 as elsewhere described, can' leave the machine in such condition that its revoluble parts are.

locked against rotation.

The net result is that at 'all times except when the revoluble parts are in motion, they are firmly locked against rotation; and When condition for rotation they cannot become accidentally locked.

The arrangement just described tends therefore to prevent accidents of a certain kind, and renders the apparatus fool proof,

The pinion 23 is rgidly lmounted upon a shaft 40, the latter being journaled to the casingtas may be understood from Figures .land 2. i i

The shaft 40 carries a sleeve 41, which is rigid upon and revoluble with it.

- Extending diametrically through the sleeve 41 is acentrifugal arm 42, and mounti ed upon one end ofthis arm is a counterweight 43.

The flask used for molding appears at 44, and is provided with an anchoring rib 45, this rib having a cross section of the form of as may be understood from Figure 10. In order to mount the flask 44 upon the centrifugal arm 42 I provide a yoke 46, having the form indicated in Figures 6 land 7. This 'yoke is provided with a pair o f blades 48, extending parallel with each other and separated by a slot 49, as indicated in Figure 7,. The yoke 46 carries' a pin 50, and mounted upon this pin-is a hook 51, provided .with a handle 52, integral with it. The

' anchoring rib 45 of `.the flask 44 is provided 'and the handle 52 is actuated for the puroke 46 is provided with a massive collar 4 Wise tightly secured. to the centrfugal arm- 42, as may be understood from ,Figure 16. With the yoke 46 in position upon the centrifugal 'arm 42, the flask 44 .may be placed upon the yoke 46 and there locked in position. For 'this .Purpose the 'anchorproper position upon the centrifugal arm 42 which is shrunk upon or othering rib is first .brought into alinement with' the slot 49, and then the flask is slid telescopically upon the yoke until it reaches the limlt of its travel relatively thereto. This brings itA into such position that the hook 51 may be thrust through the hole 51ab by a movement of the handle 52, as above described. The yoke 46 is provided with a shoulder 46a, shown more particularly in Figures 7 and 1'6, andv against which the adjacent edge of the flask 44 is ada ted to abut, as indicated in Figure .16. T e yoke 46 is frther provided with a flange 46h, integral with it and having a general arcuate form, as indicated in Figures 6 and 7 i This flange 46b is for the purpose of holding a crucible, as hereinafter described.

Associated with the flask 44 is a sprue plate 53, having in this instance the form of a metallic plate. The sprue plate is provided with an indentation 54 substantially of semi-cylindrical form as may be understood from Figures 8 and 9. The purpose of the indentation 54 is vto form an indentation in the fillino' to be contained in the flask, for a .purpose zhereinafter set forth. The sprue plate is further provided a portion 55 extending latera-lly and having the form of ablade.- The sprue plate is further'provided with airl holes 56, anchorvlugs 57, and concave edge portions .58, so positioned as to serve asiauxiliary air vents.

are for the purpose of receiving the anchor lugs V57 whenever the' sprue is fitted upon the The filling is shown at in Figure 16 and has a formwhich may be understood from said' figure, the various voids being .shown 'at 66, 67, 68 and 69, and communicating with each other.v The void 66 constitutes now adapted to serve as a vent hole, for'permitting the escape of air from the lower ortion of .the flask, as the molten meta is poured into the mold. The void-69 is of proper form to serve as an ingate. The void 68 has a Semi-c lindrical form, and is thus adapted to receive the edge of a crucible 70 of the form indicated in'Figure 16. This crucible has a relatively thick bottom, as shown in Figure 16, and is provided with4 a compartment 71 for holding the metal to be melted and used in casting.

The operation of my device maybe readily .understood from the foregoing description- For purposes'of casting the first step is to mount the flask and its contents, along with the crucible 7 O,` upon the cen'trifugal arm 42.

For this purpose the mechanism shown in 'Figures 1 yand 2, exclusive of the crucible and theflask with its contents, are brought cruible, and heated by means of a blowpipe. At the same time, or as a separate step if the operator so desires, the flask and its contents are warmedor heated to a suitable extent. During the period while this is being done, the arm 26 is locked against rotation in the ma-nner above described so that,

for the time being the centrifugal arm 42 is stationary so that the crucible and fiask are held rigidly in fixed positions. I

' The gold being melted, the operator grasps the handle 28, and by pulling the same so as to rock the arm 26 slightly away from the casing 18,' causes the lug 38 to be withdrawn from the slot 39, andl at the same time causes the hook 31 of the leaf spring 30 to snap into the notch 29, as above explained, so that the handle 26 now occupies the position indicated for it in Figure 3.

The operator now turns the handle freely, thereby causing the rotation of the gear 22,

` f the pinion 23, the shaft 40' and the centrifu- The flask 44 is provided with' anchon notches 59, as shown in Figure 10.l These' ga'll arm 42. The molten gold is by centrifugal force carried out of the crucible 70, through the ingate 69 and into the mold cavrity 66, The molten metal completely fills the a 'cavity 66 and in so doing drives out the air previously' contained in the mold cavity,

this air passing upwardly through the passages 67 and making its escape from the top of the filling. The form of the edge portions 58, indicated in Figure 8, facilitate the escape of the air from the flask. The molten metal rise's in the passages 67, and thus forms gold wires of threads which are subsequently cut' off, as above described, so as to leave the projecting portions 7 3'. The step just described is of course erformed after the casting is completed an removed from the filling.- v h As soon as the molten metal within-the' mold has cooled sufliciently to render it rigid, the operator stops turning the handle 28, and thus brings the various revoluble parts .to a standstill. He locks the arm 26 against rotation, by causing the lug 38 to be thrust into the slot 39, in the manner above described. -This leaves the various revoluble parts in the positions they occupied respectively at the start.

The operator now disconnects the flask from the yoke 46, by withdrawing the hook 51` from the hole 51a so as to release the anchoring rib'45 of the'flask. This done, the fiask is taken off by merelyeliding 'it'in the general direction of the length of the centrifugal arm This leaves the machine in condition for the operator to proceed With the work of making another casting.

lVhile the rotation of the revoluble parts may be in either of two Idirections, I prefer cmployed in the construction thereof, 'nor to any particular use for which the device may be employed. While Well adapted for castings used in connection With dentures, my apparatus may b`e employed With equal facility for making castings of other kinds, and which may be either large or small. 'The castings produced may be made of any metal or other fusible or moldable material adapted for being made into castings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows: a

1. A rotary casting device, comprising a centrifugal arm, means for turning the same, a flask mounted upon said arm and revoluble therewith, a filling contained within said' flask and provided with a mold cavity and with an ingate communicating With said mold cavity, and a crucible supported by -said centrifugal arm and extending into said' flask and into close proximity to said ingate, for the purpose of delivering moldable material thereinto, said crucible resting against said filling so as to press thereupon when the cylindrical arm is rotated.

'2. A rotary casting device, comprising a centrifugal arm, means for turning the same, a flask carried by, said centrifugal. arm, a filling carried by said flask, and a crucible carried by said centrifugal arm,

said crucible being provided With a portion molten metal or the likeinto' a gate,

- in said filling,

extending into said flask and resting against said filling for the purpose 'of delivering filling carried` by said flask. y w I 3. A rotary casting device, comprising a centrifugal member, means for turning the 'same, a flask carried by Vsaid lcentrifugal member, a moldfilli'ng carried by said flasl and provided with a mold cavity and an ingate'leading to said mold cavity, said mold filling being further provided With an indentation located in proximity to said inand a crucible carried by said centrifugal member and fitting into said -indentation for the purpose'of delivering moltenmetal or the like into said ingate.

4. An rotary casting device, comprising a centrifugally-'operated supporting member,

means for actuating the same, 'a flask mount- `like thereinto.

ed upon said centrifugally operated supporting member, a filling carriedby said flask and provided with a mold cavity and with an ingate communicating with said mold o a cavity, and a receptac-le carriedbyv said centrifugally operated 'supporting member and detachably engaging said filling at `v-a' i point in close proximity to said ingate, for

the Purpose of dischargng a moldable material into'said ingate.

5'. A rotary casting device, comprising a centrifugal arm, a yoke mounted thereupon and provided With a projecting portion, a

crucible carried by said yoke and engaging said projecting portion, a 'fiaskl mounted upon said yoke, a filling contained Within said fiask and provided with a mold'cavity o and with an ingate communicating With said mold cavity, said filling engaging said- -crucible upon the side thereof opposite said projecting portion of said yoke, so that said crucible is held in position by-` said filling and said projecting portion, said crucible extending into said filling and linto immediate proximity to said ingate, for the purpose of delivering molten metal or the like thereinto. w

6. A rotary casting device, comprising a centrifugal arm, 'means for turning same, a fla'sk mounted upon 'said centrlfugal arm, a filling contained within' said flask and provided with a 'mold cavity and With an ingate communicating With said mold cavity, said filling being made of plaster of Paris, and a crucible carried by said cen-- trifugal arm and `engaging said filling so that said filling braces said crucible on one side thereof, mechanism for bracing said crucible on another side thereofl so 'as to.

hold said crucible rigid relatively to -said filling, said crucible being so located as to extend into immediate proximity to said inthe gate in order to deliver molten metal or the like into said ingate.

7. A rotary casting device, comprising a centrifugal arm, means for turning the same, a fiask mounted upon said centrifugal arm, a and provided with a mold cavity and With an ingate cavity, aid filling being further provided with an indentation merging into said 111- gate and a crucible carried by said centrifugal arm and fitting into said indentatlon, so that 'a portion of said crucible extends into immediate proximity to said ingate, for the purpose of delivering molten metal or the 8.- In a rotary lcasting device, the 'combination of a centrifugalrarm, means lfor turning the same, a yoke mounted upon said centrifugal arm and .provided With' a' pair filling contained within said vflaskcommunicating With said mold,

means:

with a hole extending throu h said rih, and a fastening member mounte upon said yoke and provided with a portion to be thrust through said hole in said rib, for the purpose of holdin said flask in position upon said bentrifuga arm.

9. In a rotary casting device, the combination of a oentrifu alarm, a mold monnted thereupon and revo ub'le therewith, gearing for turning said revoluble arm, and mech- -anism controllable at the will of the Oper ator for lookin said earing in order to pre- -vent accidenta rotatlon of said centrifugal arm.

410. In a rotary castin device, the combmation of .a centrifuga arm, a molding flask mounted thereupon, gearing for turning said centrifnalarm, said gearing including a manua 'operat'ed arm, a casing gearing,v and mechanism for supportmg'sal ibin'ation of al centrifhgal arm, a molding flask mounted upon said entrifugal arm, gearing connected with said -centrifugal arm for turning the same, said gearing includ'1 a manually operated arm, a casing for ho ing said gearmgi said'casing being provided With a notch an,d said arm being provided with a lug for fitting into said notch and means controllable at the will of the operator for shifting said larrn into either of two normal positions, for enabling said Iug to enter said notch, or for preventing said lug from entering'fsaid notch.

' GEORGE A. oHiRg'r. 

